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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why did Smith's mother hide the television under a bedspread?

2. What disease did one of the firefighters contract?

3. What did Smith see in Fireman Billy-o as he held the baby who died in the fire?

4. What actor was interviewed in the Playboy issue, read by Smith in Chapter 7?

5. Why did it take the firemen longer than usual to reach the large fire on Intervale Avenue in Chapter 10?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did the firefighters react to the call in Chapter 7 in which they tended to a man who almost overdosed on drugs?

2. How did the elementary student, Cynthia, approach her interview with Smith in Chapter 9?

3. Despite the death of the baby in the last fire in the book, Smith was more committed than ever to remaining a firefighter. What did he see at that fire that reinforced his tremendous loyalty to his fellow firemen?

4. How did Smith distinguish between acts of shoplifting and looting within poor neighborhoods?

5. How did Smith convince himself of the need to respond to all calls when he found himself getting fed up with the arson incidents?

6. In what key way does Smith say the modern firefighting exams are different from those of the past?

7. Why had the system of safety inspections changed so radically?

8. What were Smith's initial views of firefighting before he joined the department?

9. Does Smith feel that society has become more violent over the years, and if so, why?

10. Why were the men uneasy as they begin the training drill in Chapter 6?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapter 2, a young boy was injured when a driver known for hot-rodding sped through the neighborhood; the driver was beaten by the gathered crowd before being rescued by police. Smith pointed out that while the boy never cried, the driver was weeping in the police car because he was worried he wouldn't be protected. How did the firefighters react to the man's attitude? In what way is physical pain sometimes easier to handle than mental pain? Does knowing you have been guilty of a crime cause pain? Did the man's crying indicate that he felt remorse for what he had done or was it simply cowardice? Is it ever easy to face up to despicable acts?

Essay Topic 2

Smith met numerous neighborhood children during his years of service--some of them eventually fell prey to the streets, while for others, the future was not yet known. Does Smith feel that society at large can help to ensure that neglected children in poor neighborhoods do not fall victim to the violence and depression around them? What does he believe is society's role in reaching out to needy children who are being ignored by the families?

Essay Topic 3

Smith discusses dropping out of school because he wanted to start making money and states that he found his own way to survive. In retrospect, was his decision to drop out a good, bad, or neutral one? What could he have more easily accomplished had he earned his diploma? Are there things that he learned while working that he could not have learned in school?Could he have put those things off until after school?

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